Through The Storm

Do you trust God in the storm?

"That day when evening came, he said to his disciples, "Let us go over to the other side." Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. There were also other boats with him. A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, "Teacher, don't you care if we drown?" He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, "Quiet! Be still!" Then the wind died down and it was completely calm. He said to his disciples, "Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?" They were terrified and asked each other, "Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!" Mark 4:35-41

The disciples didn't exactly. Not right away here. Notice who's idea it was to get in the boat and go alllll the way to the other side of the lake. Jesus. Maybe Jesus had an idea that a storm was coming. Maybe Jesus had an idea that the disciples needed to see his power to fully believe in it. The disciples were experienced fisherman, some by trade. They had been on the Sea of Galilee many times and probably through a few storms. The disciples were probably freaking out and Jesus was sleeping. Sleeping! Through the storm.

I'm thinking the storm had to happen. The storm had to come for the disciples to fully grasp that Jesus was the almighty, all-powerful God. "Quiet! Be still!" Jesus says. When I put myself in that boat, I imagine Jesus sounded commanding like they had never heard. There are two exclamation points in those three little words. What an influential moment a boat can bring.

The wind and the waves listened, maybe we should too. Maybe we are in the greatest storm of a lifetime. But just maybe this storm has to happen too. We have been given more quiet time and opportunities to be still, but do we take them? Do we listen like the wind and the waves or are we too focused on drowning in the storm? How is Jesus going to wake up in the middle of this storm if we don't ask him, the disciples had to. Maybe we are the ones who need to wake up first and "Quiet! Be Still!" Slow down, focus on what is right in front of you. And talk to Jesus. Ask him for help. Acknowledge that we need him in this storm and every other.